Condition of the Colony at the time of Smith's Departure-- Assaults of Indians--"The Starving Time"--The Sea-Venture-- Situation of the English on the Island of Bermuda--They Embark for Virginia--Arrive at Jamestown--Jamestown abandoned-- Colonists meet Lord Delaware's Fleet--Return to Jamestown-- Delaware's Discipline--The Church at Jamestown--Sir George Somers--Delaware returns to England--Percy, Governor--New Charter--Sir Thomas Dale, Governor--Martial Laws--Henrico Founded--Plantations and Hundreds settled--Argall makes Pocahontas a Prisoner--Dale's expedition up York River--Rolfe visits Powhatan--Dale returns to Jamestown--Rolfe marries Pocahontas--The Chickahominies enter into Treaty of Peace-- Community of Goods abolished--Argall's Expeditions against the French in Acadia--Captures Fort at New Amsterdam. CAPTAIN SMITH, upon embarking for England, left at Jamestown three ships, seven boats, a sufficient stock of provision, four hundred and ninety odd settlers, twenty pieces of cannon, three hundred muskets, with other guns, pikes, swords, and ammunition, and one hundred soldiers acquainted with the Indian language, and the nature of the country.[92:A] The settlers were, for the most part, poor gentlemen, serving-men, libertines; and with such materials the wonder is, not that the settlement was retarded by many disasters, but that it was effected at all. Lord Bacon says: "It is a shameful and unblessed thing to take the scum of people, wicked, condemned men, with whom you plant; and not only so, but it spoileth the plantation, for they will ever live like rogues, and not fall to work, but be lazy and do mischief; spend victuals and be quickly weary."[92:B] Immediately upon Smith's departure the Indians renewed their attacks. Percy, the Earl of Northumberland's brother, for a time administered the government; but it soon fell into the hands of the seditious malecontents. Provisions growing scarce, West and Ratcliffe embarked in small vessels to procure corn. Ratcliffe, inveigled by Powhatan, was slain with thirty of his companions, two only escaping, of whom one, a boy, Henry Spilman, a young gentleman well descended, was rescued by Pocahontas, and he afterwards lived for many years among the Patawomekes, acquired their language, and often proved serviceable as an interpreter for his countrymen. He was slain by the savages, on the banks of the Potomac, in 1622. The loss of Captain Smith was soon felt by the colonists: they were now continually exposed to the arrow and the tomahawk; the common store was consumed by the commanders and the savages; swords and guns were bartered with the Indians for food; and within six months after Smith's departure the number of English in Virginia was reduced from five hundred to sixty men, women, and children. These found themselves in a starving condition, subsisting on roots, herbs, acorns, walnuts, berries, and fish.